Grain-binder.



No. 710,781. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

E. A. JOHNSTON.

GRAIN BINDER.

(Application filed Men. 5, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

1!; HHUIHIHWHmm 1 N-mm.

No. 7l0, 78|. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

E. AQJDHNSTON.

GRAIN BINDER.

(Application filed In. 5, 1901.) I {No Model.) 2 $heetsSheet 2.

WITNESSES: l SYENIQB ATTQB SEYG n1: Norms PETERS 00 PHOTO-duo" WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVTARD A. JOHNSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MCCORMICK HARVESTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GRAlN BlNDER.

SPECIFILATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'710,781, dated Octber7, 1902. Application filed March 5, 1901. Serial No. LQJQS. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDWAR A. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Binders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it 10 appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to that part of the mechanism of a self-binder for grain-harvesters, corn'harvesters, and the like which has to do with throwing the binder devices per5 riodically into and out of operation for the purpose of binding the bundle and discharging it from the machine when bound.

The objects in view are to throw the binder devices into action as promptly as possible on the actuation of the trip, so as to make an immediate separation of the gavel from the stream of grain moving toward the binder and torelieve the bound bundle of the resistance to its outward movement that is offered by the upward pressure of the trip-arm, so as to facilitate the discharge of the bundle from the machine; also, to provide an improved chock for preventing the rebound of the binder devices when thrown out of operation.

The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is an end elevation of the principal operative parts of the binder, the crankdisk on the knotter-shaft being broken away 5 to show the internal construction of the bevelgear beyond. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of some of the same parts, showing the driving-dog and the trip-stop. Fig. 3 is a side View, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal View of Fig. 1

on the line 4 4:, and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing the chock for preventing the rebound of the binder.

Referring to the views, the binder-frame is 5 of the usual construction and, as indicated in Fig. 3, is composed of the vertical post a, the upper horizontal member a, overhanging the binder-deck, and the horizontal member a underlying the deck in the ordinary 5o manner.

The knotter drive-shaft b is journaled, as usual,in the overhanging arm a of the binderframe and is rotated periodically by means of a gear 0 which is loosely mounted on the end of the knotter drive-shaft, as indicated in Fig. 3, and is continuously driven from the packer-shaft beneath the deck by a chain or shaft in a manner that is now well under stood. The wheel 0 is concaved or hollowed out on its outer side and is provided with notches or projections 0 around the periphery of this hollow or concave. On the extreme end of the knotter drive-shaft is fixed a crankdisk d. An arm d projects radially from this disk and is connected, by means of the link-rod a with an arm 0 on the shaft 0 of the needle 0', which underlies the binder (leek, this mechanism serving to operate the needle from and by means of the knotter drive-shaft in the ordinary manner.

The packer-shaft b and its pinion b are continuously in rotation, and the wheel 0 being geared thereto, as above described, is also continuously driven. The knotter driveshal't is periodically connected to and disconnected from the wheel 0 by means of a dog 0, whichis pivoted upon a stud d, projecting from the inner face of the crank-disk (Z. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thisdisk corresponds substantially in diameter with the concaved part of the wheel 0 so as to cover, protect, and conceal the notches c and the dog to be hereinafter described. The inner end of the dog c" projects into the hollow of the wheel 0 and carries a small roller 0 adapted to engage 8 5 the notches 0 so that when the roller engages in one of the notches the crank-disk and the knotter drive-shaft are rotated with the wheel. The dog (J is provided with a spring d which reacts between itsinnerend 0 and the hub of the crank-disk for the purpose of throwing the roller automatically into engagement with the wheelc The mechanism for tripping the binder is what is known as the table-trip type, and 5 consists of a plate or arm 6, projecting ra-' dially outwardly from one end of a shaft 6, that is journaled in lugs or ears (2 on the binder-frame. An arm e projects from the opposite end of the trip-shaft and is connecttoo ed by means of a link Q with a trip-stop consisting of a rod 61 that is arranged to slide vertically in and through a housing (1 formed on the vertical post a of the binder-frame. The upper end of this trip-stop projects into the path described by the outer end of the dog as the latter rotates with the crankdisk, so that the inner end of the dog is thrown out of engagement with the notches of the wheel 0 when its outer end strikes the stop, thereby releasing the knotter drive-shaft from the wheel 0 and bringing the binder to rest. The extremity of the outer end of the dog 0 is preferably forked or notched, as shown at c in Fig. 5, for the purpose of more efiectually and surely engaging the trip-stop. The trip-arm e is held slightly above the surface of the deck by means of a spring (E inclosed in the housing (Z and encircling the trip-stop 01 This spring reacts between the bottom of the housing and a collar 61 near the upper end of the stop-rod, thereby pulling up on the arm 6 of the trip-shaft and holding the trip-arm normally above the deck, as just described. For the purpose of regulating the amount of pressure required to operate the trip-arm the spring d is made adjustable in tension by means of a stud d which is screwed into the bottom of the housing (Z and through which the trip-stop rod (1 slides freely, and in order to provide for timing the action of the trip the connection between the lower end of the rod and the link (2 is made by means of a block 6 which is made adjustable on the lower end of the rod and is held in any position thereon by means of a nut 61 The compressor-finger is denoted by g, and its supporting-arm is indicated at g. The compressor-arm is mounted on a short shaft g which is journaled in brackets h h, cast on the underlying arm a of the binder-frame. The present invention is not, however, concerned with these parts of the binder, and no further description of them is deemed necessary.

As is well understood, the trip-arms of the table-trip type are actuated by the downward pressure of the bundle of grain reacting against the breast-plate which shields the knotter mechanism above, and the spring (1 keeps the arm 6 pressing upwardly against the bundle, even after the binder has been tripped. This has the effect of opposing the free discharge of the bundle to the extent of the resistance offered by the spring. It is desirable, however, that at the moment of discharge of the bundle there should be no hindrance to its outward movement, and the present invention contemplates means for holding the trip-arm down after it has been actuated and rendering the spring temporarily inoperative. This arrangement consists of an arm f, secured to the needle-shaft c and having a roller f at its outer end in connection with an extension 6 of the arm 6 from the trip-shaft. This extension 9 projects into the path described by the roller f as the armf moves downward when the needle ascends. This action is clearly indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, from which it will be understood that when the needle rises to present the twine to the knotter the trip-arm e is held down below the surface of the deck and the spring is prevented from returning it until the needle descends again and the roller f runs off the extension 6 IVhen the binder has been tripped into action, it operates very rapidly, and the parts have so much momentum that when the dog a strikes the trip-stop (1 thereby throwing the binder out of operation, there is considerable liability of the mechanism rebounding. In order to prevent this, I provide a chock consisting of a lug or projection i on the housing (1 and in an extension of the arm 61, which projects from the crank-disk d, as before described, I mount a roller 2", which slides in a guideway i in the arm 2' and is pressed yieldingly outward by means of a spring 2' The projection i is preferably wedge-shaped or inclined on one side, so that as the arm d rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 the roller 2" may ride over its upper surface and fall behind it, the rear side of the projection being shaped so as to form a chock or abutment preventing the return movement of the roller,and thus locking the parts against rebound.

The construction being as above described, it will be noted that the trip has a very prompt action, the trip'stop requiring but little movement in order to release the dog and throw the binder into operation, and, further, that the adjustability of the connection between the stop and trip-shaft crank enables the timing of the tripping action and the extent of movement of the stop, so that the needle can be set to make an immediate separation of gavel from the mass of grain coming into the binder from the elevator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure is- 1. In a self-binder, the combination of a table-trip, a shaft to which said trip is secured, a trip-stop, a crank on the trip-shaft connected to said stop, the needle-shaft, and a projection on the latter to engage the tripshaft crank and hold the table-trip down until the bundle is discharged.

2. In a self-binder, the combination of a trip-arm, a shaft on which the arm is mounted, a crank on the end of the shaft, a housing on the vertical post of the binder-frame, a trip stop sliding through said housing, a spring encircling the stop and holding its upper end normally above the housing, a collar on the stop to limit its upward movement, and an adjustable stop in the bottom of the housing between which and the collar the spring reacts, and a connection between the trip-stop and the crank on the trip-arm shaft.

3. In a self-binder, the combination of the rection and prevent its revolution in the opknotter drive-shaft, a crank -arm on said posite direction. [0 shaft, a lateral projection extending out from In testimony whereof I affix my signature the vertical post of the binder-frame across in presence of two witnesses. the vertical plane of the crank-arm, and a EDWARD A.'JOIINSTON. radially-yielding spring-pressed roller carried i Witnesses: by the arm and engaging; the projection so as XVILLIAM WEBBER,

to permit the drive-shaft to revolve in one dii CHAS. W. ALLEN. 

